I love the “social” part of social media. So often when I share an idea, someone out there offers something that gets me thinking deeper or in a slightly different direction.
Last time I concluded with this thought:
If you shine a light into a dark place, everyone, including you, sees a bit more clearly.
Cyndy, one of my Facebook friends, tossed out a really thought-provoking comment.
I think that is only true if you use a soft, warm light. If the light you use is too bright, too harsh, then most people are too busy closing or shielding their eyes to see at all.
What a great word picture for people who use truth as a weapon. I thought of an interrogation room with its hot, blinding glare, the cruel, unforgiving light used by the Pharisees to accuse, condemn, and control.
We need to speak truth, but we need to do it in love, in the context of relationship. Banging people over the head with truth before I’ve taken time to walk with them, know their story, and establish trust is assault, not evangelism.
Cyndy’s comment reminded me of John 1:14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Grace without truth lacks light and simply prolongs darkness. Truth without grace is the harsh, glaring, accusatory light that causes people to shield their eyes.
We need to seek the wisdom to speak truth with the “soft, warm light” of grace.
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